Semiconductor assemblies including vertically integrated circuits and methods of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

Semiconductor assemblies including thermal management configurations for reducing heat transfer between overlapping devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A semiconductor assembly may comprise a first device and a second device with a thermally conductive layer, a thermal-insulator interposer, or a combination thereof disposed between the first and second devices. The thermally conductive layer and/or the thermal-insulator interposer may be configured to reduce heat transfer between the first and second devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/503,363, filed Jul. 3, 2019; which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

This application contains subject matter related to an U.S. patentapplication by Chan H. Yoo et al., titled “SEMICONDUCTOR ASSEMBLIESINCLUDING THERMAL CIRCUITS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME,” whichis assigned to Micron Technology, Inc., is identified as U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/503,353, filed on Jul. 3, 2019, and isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology is directed to packaging semiconductorassemblies, such as memory and processors, and several embodiments aredirected to semiconductor assemblies that include vertically integratedcircuits.

BACKGROUND

The current trend in semiconductor fabrication is to manufacture smallerand faster devices with a higher density of components for computers,cell phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, and many otherproducts. All semiconductor devices generate heat, and dissipating suchheat is necessary for optimum and reliable operation of high-performancedevices. Moreover, as speed and component density increase, the heatbecomes a limiting factor in many products. For example, highperformance devices that generate from 80-100 watts may not operate atrated levels or may degrade sufficient heat is dissipated. Accordingly,heat dissipation is a significant design factor for manufacturingmicrofeature devices.

FIG. 1A is a top view of a conventional semiconductor device assembly100 (“assembly 100”), and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view ofthe semiconductor device assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1A taken along line1B-1B of FIG. 1A. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B together, the assembly100 includes a package configured for high-performance operations, suchas 3-dimensional graphics processing and/or network processing. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the assembly 100 includes a logic device102 and a set of memory devices 104 attached to a substrate 106 (e.g., aprinted circuit board (PCB)). The logic device 102 includes a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), and the memory devices 104 generally includehigh-bandwidth memory (HBM) devices. Details regarding HBM devices aredescribed below.

The assembly 100 includes an interposer 108 (e.g., a silicon interposer)disposed between the devices and the substrate 106. The interposer 108provides an electrical interface routing between the substrate 102, thelogic device 102, the memory devices 104, or a combination thereof. Theassembly 100 further includes interface devices 110 disposed between thememory devices 104 and the interposer 108. The interface devicesgenerally include silicon dies configured to facilitate thecorresponding memory devices to interface with other devices, such asthe GPU.

FIG. 1C illustrates a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of aconventional memory device 124 (e.g., the memory device 104). The memorydevice 124 includes a stacked package configured to providehigh-performance memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)) interface.The memory device 124 includes memory dies 144 and a storage controller142 stacked together. One or more of the dies include through siliconvias (TSVs) for electrically coupling two or more dies. The memorydevice 124 also includes an encapsulant encasing one or more dies.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the memory devices 104 and the logic device102 are horizontally adjacent to each other and horizontally separated.In other words, the memory devices 104 and the logic device 102 arearranged side-by-side, such that the devices do not overlap. The memorydevices 104 and the logic device 102 form a layer over the substrate106. Since heat generally travels upward, the horizontal arrangement ofthe logic device 102 and the memory devices 104 reduces heat transferbetween the devices, such as from the logic device 102 to the memorydevices 104. When the logic device 102 is the GPU, it often generatesrelatively large amounts of thermal energy. As such, existing systemsgenerally do not stack any heat-sensitive devices, such as the memorydevices 104, over the GPU. However, the horizontal arrangementdrastically increases the overall footprint of the assembly 100.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of a conventional semiconductor device assembly.

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conventionalsemiconductor device assembly shown in FIG. 1A taken along line 1B-1B ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of a memory device.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductor deviceassembly taken along line 2A-2A of FIG. 2B in accordance withembodiments of the technology.

FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the semiconductor deviceassembly shown in FIG. 2A taken along line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A inaccordance with embodiments of the technology.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing asemiconductor device assembly in accordance with embodiments of thetechnology.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a system that includes a semiconductorassembly configured in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are discussed toprovide a thorough and enabling description for embodiments of thepresent technology. One skilled in the relevant art, however, willrecognize that the disclosure can be practiced without one or more ofthe specific details. In other instances, well-known structures oroperations often associated with semiconductor devices are not shown, orare not described in detail, to avoid obscuring other aspects of thetechnology. In general, it should be understood that various otherdevices, systems, and methods in addition to those specific embodimentsdisclosed herein may be within the scope of the present technology.

Several embodiments of semiconductor devices, packages, and/orassemblies in accordance with the present technology can include one ormore memory devices mounted over a logic device (e.g., GPU). Thevertically stacked structure can include a thermal managementconfiguration to reduce heat transfer between the logic device and thememory devices.

In some embodiments, the vertically stacked structure can include athermally conductive layer (e.g., graphene structure) on the logicdevice for laterally (e.g., horizontally) transferring the heatgenerated by the logic device. A heat spreader can be mounted over thelogic device and attached to peripheral portions of the thermallyconductive layer. Accordingly, the heat generated by the logic devicecan be routed around the memory devices via the thermally conductivelayer and dissipated over the memory devices using the heat spreader.

In some embodiments, the vertically stacked structure can include athermal-insulation interposer between the logic device and the memorydevices. The thermal-insulation interposer can be configured to reducetransfer of heat between the logic device and the memory devices. In oneor more embodiments, the thermal-insulation interposer can includeglass, ceramics, or other thermal insulators. In one or moreembodiments, the thermal-insulation interposer can include a cavityconfigured to further reduce the heat transfer. For example, the cavitycan maintain a vacuum condition for reducing the heat transfer. Also,the cavity can be filled with phase change material (PCM) that canabsorb thermal energy. The PCM can include substances with relativelyhigh heat of fusion that change the physical state (via, e.g., melting,boiling, solidifying, etc.) based on absorbing the thermal energy.Details regarding the thermal management configuration are describedbelow.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductor deviceassembly 200 (“assembly 200”) taken along line 2A-2A of FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the semiconductor deviceassembly 200 shown in FIG. 2A taken along line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A inaccordance with embodiments of the technology. Referring to FIG. 2A andFIG. 2B together, the assembly 200 can include a package configured forhigh-performance operations, such as 3-dimensional graphics processingand/or network processing. The assembly 200 can include a logic device202 and a set of memory devices 204 mounted over a substrate 206 (e.g.,a printed circuit board (PCB)). In some embodiments, the logic device202 can include a graphics processing unit (GPU). In some embodiments,the memory devices 204 can include high-bandwidth memory (HBM) devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the assembly 200 can include the memorydevices 204, which can be mounted over the logic device 202. The memorydevices 204 can overlap the logic devices 202, such as by beinglaterally within peripheral boundaries of the logic device 202.Accordingly, the lateral footprint of the assembly 200 (i.e., thefootprint in the view of FIG. 2B) can be less than that of theconventional assembly 100 of FIG. 1A by eliminating laterally adjacentdevices. The assembly 200 can also include vertical electricalconnectors 208 (e.g., wires and/or conductive pillars) that electricallycouple the memory devices 204 with the logic device 202.

The assembly 200 can include a thermal management system for reducingthe heat transfer between the logic device 202 and the memory devices204. For example, the thermal management system of the assembly 200 caninclude a thermally conductive layer 210 attached to a top surface ofthe logic device 202. In some embodiments, the thermally conductivelayer 210 can include a graphene structure that includes carbon atomsarranged along one or more planar layers (e.g., arranged in a hexagonallattice along a horizontal plane). Accordingly, the graphene structurecan provide relatively efficient transfer (e.g., in comparison tometallic material) of thermal energy across a transverse plane relativeto an upper surface 203 of the logic device 202 (e.g., a horizontalplane parallel to the upper surface 203 of the logic device 202). In oneor more embodiments, the graphene structure can be attached to the logicdevice 202 using an adhesive 211. For example, the graphene structurecan include one or more depressions or holes. In some embodiments, theadhesive 211 (e.g., epoxy or thermal interface material (TIM)) can beapplied such that it fills the holes and contacts the structures aboveand/or below the graphene structure (e.g., the logic device 202, thememory devices 204, and/or an interposer). Accordingly, when theadhesive material is cured (via, e.g., heat, light, and/or chemicalagents), the graphene structure can be at least partially encapsulatedby the adhesive 211 and affixed relative to the vertically adjacentstructures.

The thermal management system of the assembly 200 can also include aheat spreader 212 mounted over the logic device 202 and the memorydevices 204. The heat spreader 212 can include a dissipation portion(e.g., fins) above the memory devices 204. The dissipation portion canbe integrally connected to peripheral columns/walls that extendvertically and attach to (via, e.g., TIM or other thermally conductiveadhesives) peripheral portions of the heat spreader 212. In someembodiments, the peripheral walls of the heat spreader 212 can bedirectly attached (via, e.g., direct contact and/or TIM) to a topsurface of the thermally conductive layer 210 on peripheral portionsthereof. In other embodiments, the peripheral walls of the heat spreader212 can be directly attached to corresponding peripheral surfaces of thethermally conductive layer 210. As such, the thermal energy from thelogic device 202 preferentially flows through the peripheral portions ofthe heat spreader 212 and is dissipated via the dissipation portion.Accordingly, the heat from the logic device 202 can be directed aroundthe memory devices 204 using the thermally conductive layer 210 and theheat spreader 212, thereby reducing the heat transfer between the logicdevice 202 and the memory devices 204 (e.g., inhibiting heat generatedby the logic device 202 from flowing to the memory devices 204).

In some embodiments, the heat spreader 212 can include an opening 213(e.g., as shown in FIG. 2B) at least partially surrounded/defined by theperipheral walls of the heat spreader 212. For example, the opening canallow air to flow across the logic device 202 and/or the memory devices204 to further remove thermal energy. In other embodiments, theperipheral walls of the heat spreader 212 can encircle/surround thememory devices 204 along a lateral plane. Accordingly, an amount ofcontact between the heat spreader 212 and the logic device 202 and/orthe thermally conductive layer 210 can be increased.

As a further example of the thermal management system, the assembly 200can include a thermal-insulation interposer 214 disposed between thelogic device 202 and at least a portion of the memory devices 204. Insome embodiments, the memory devices 204 can be directly attached to thethermal-insulation interposer 214, such as via a thermally insulativeadhesive. In some embodiments, the thermal-insulation interposer 214 canbe over the thermally conductive layer 210.

The thermal-insulation interposer 214 can include thermal insulators,such as glass or ceramic materials, and be configured to block andreduce heat transfer between the logic device 202 and the memory devices204. The thermal-insulation interposer 214 can be superimposed directlyunder the memory devices 204 such that the memory devices 204 arelocated at least partially within the peripheral edges of thethermal-insulation interposer 214. In other words, thethermal-insulation interposer 214 can extend up to or beyond peripheraledges of the memory devices 204 (e.g., the memory devices 204 can becompletely within a boundary defined by the lateral periphery of thethermal-insulation interposer 214). Accordingly, the thermal-insulationinterposer 214 reduces or eliminates direct lines of sight between thelogic device 202 and the memory devices 204 to block or at least impede(e.g., reduce) the heat generated by the logic device 202 from reachingthe memory devices 204.

In some embodiments, the thermal-insulation interposer 214 can include acavity 216 to further reduce the absorption or transfer of the thermalenergy in or across the thermal-insulation interposer 214. For example,the cavity 216 can be under a vacuum condition. Also, the cavity 216 canbe filled with insulative gases and/or PCM.

The thermal-insulation interposer 214 can include openings 215 throughwhich vertical interconnects can pass to electrically connect verticallyadjacent structures. For example, the electrical connectors 208 can belocated within the openings 215. In some embodiments, the openings 215of the thermal-insulation interposer 214 can be directly over (e.g.,horizontally overlapping) the holes in the thermally conductive layer210. In other embodiments, the openings of the thermal-insulationinterposer 214 and the holes in the thermally conductive layer 210 canbe horizontally offset, such as to eliminate any vertically directline-of-sight between the logic device 202 and the memory devices 204.Accordingly, the electrical connectors 208 can include bends and/or canbe aligned diagonally to pass through the openings of thethermal-insulation interposer 214 and the holes in the thermallyconductive layer 210.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 of manufacturing asemiconductor device assembly in accordance with embodiments of thetechnology. The method 300 can be for manufacturing the semiconductordevice assembly including a set of stacked semiconductor devices with athermal management configuration for preventing heat transfer betweenthe devices. For example, the method 300 can be for manufacturing theassembly 200 of FIG. 2A.

At block 302, a substrate (e.g., the substrate 206 of FIG. 2A) can beprovided. For example, a PCB can be provided. At block 304, a logicdevice (e.g., the logic device 202 of FIG. 2A) can be mounted on thesubstrate. For example, a GPU can be directly attached to a top surfaceof the substrate based on reflowing solder and/or curing an adhesivedisposed between the GPU and the substrate.

At block 306, a thermally conductive layer (e.g., the thermallyconductive layer 210 of FIG. 2A) can be provided over the logic device.Continuing with the above example, a graphene structure can be placedover the GPU. A thermally conductive adhesive material (e.g., epoxyand/or TIM) can be applied below, above, and/or within holes of thegraphene structure. The adhesive material can be later cured to affixthe graphene structure to the GPU. Accordingly, the graphene structurecan directly contact the GPU through the thermally conductive adhesiveand draw thermal energy out of the GPU. As described above, the graphenestructure can be configured to transfer the thermal energy along a plane(e.g., horizontally as shown in FIG. 2A).

At block 308, a thermal-insulator interposer (e.g., thethermal-insulator interposer 214 of FIG. 2A) can be provided over thethermally conductive layer and the logic device. As shown in FIG. 2B, athermally insulative structure (e.g., glass, ceramic, etc.) can beplaced over the thermally conductive layer. Along directions (e.g., in aplane parallel to the top surface 203 of the logic device 202), thethermal-insulator interposer can extend up to, without extending beyond,peripheral edges of the thermally conductive layer. In some embodiments,the thermally insulative structure can contact the thermally conductiveadhesive described above. Accordingly, as illustrated at block 310,various structures (e.g., the logic device, the graphene structure,and/or the thermally insulative interposer) can be affixed relative toeach other. In other words, the thermally conductive adhesive can becured (via, e.g., chemical agents, light, temperature, etc.), therebyaffixing the structures contacting the adhesive.

At block 312, one or more memory devices (e.g., the memory devices 204of FIG. 2A) can be attached over the thermal-insulator interposer andthe logic device. In some embodiments, the memory devices can beattached directly (via, e.g., adhesive material) to thethermal-insulator interposer. In some embodiments, attaching the memorydevices can include electrically coupling the memory devices to thelogic device. At block 314, one or more connectors (e.g., the verticallyextending electrical connectors 208 of FIG. 2A) can be connected to thememory devices and/or the logic device. In some embodiments, the memorydevices and/or the logic devices can be provided with conductors (e.g.,wires and/or metallic columns) attached thereto. The thermallyconductive layer and/or the thermal-insulator interposer can be providedwith holes and/or openings therein. When placing/attaching thestructures, the conductors can be placed within the holes and/or theopenings. Accordingly, the thermal-insulator interposer and/or thethermally conductive layer can surround the conductors along ahorizontal plane. The conductors can extend through the holes/openingsand vertically across the thermally conductive layer and/or thethermal-insulator interposer, and thereby extend between the logicdevice and the memory devices. The conductors can be connected, such asbased on reflowing solder, to the memory devices and the logic devices.

In some embodiments, the openings/holes in the thermally conductivelayer and the thermal-insulator interposer can be aligned. In otherembodiments, the openings/holes in the thermally conductive layer andthe thermal-insulator interposer can be offset such that theholes/openings are not concentric or directly over each other, therebyreducing and/or eliminating a direct line-of-sight between the memorydevices and the logic device. The conductors can extend, at leastpartially, along a horizontal direction based on the offset.

At block 316, a heat spreader/sink (e.g., the heat spreader 212 of FIG.2A) can be attached over the logic device 202. The heat spreader 212 caninclude the dissipation portion and vertical portions. The heat spreader212 can be placed such that the dissipation portion is over the memorydevices 204 with the vertical portions horizontally adjacent to theperipheral sides of the memory devices 204. The vertical portions of theheat spreader 212 can vertically extend past/across thethermal-insulator interposer 214, and they can be attached to thethermally conductive layer. In some embodiments, the vertical portionsof the heat spreader 212 can be attached (via, e.g., TIM) to a topsurface of the thermally conductive layer. In other embodiments, thevertical portions of the heat spreader 212 can be attached tocorresponding peripheral surface portions of the thermally conductivelayer.

Accordingly, the thermal management system described above reducesand/or prevents heat transfer between vertically stacked devices. Assuch, the assembly 200 can include the memory devices 204 (e.g., the HBMdevices) mounted over the logic device 202 (e.g., the GPU) without theheat from the logic device 202 affecting the memory devices 204 or viceversa. Thus, the assembly 200 can provide a reduced footprint incomparison to conventional assemblies (e.g., the assembly 100 of FIG.1A) while reducing heat transfer between the logic device 202 and thememory devices 204.

Any one of the semiconductor devices described above with reference toFIGS. 2A-3 can be incorporated into any of a myriad of larger and/ormore complex systems, a representative example of which is system 490shown schematically in FIG. 4. The system 490 can include asemiconductor device 400 (“device 400”) (e.g., a semiconductor device,package, and/or assembly), a power source 492, a driver 494, a processor496, and/or other subsystems or components 498. The device 400 caninclude features generally similar to those devices described above. Theresulting system 490 can perform any of a wide variety of functions,such as memory storage, data processing, and/or other suitablefunctions. Accordingly, representative systems 490 can include, withoutlimitation, hand-held devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, digitalreaders, and digital audio players), computers, and appliances.Components of the system 490 may be housed in a single unit ordistributed over multiple, interconnected units (e.g., through acommunications network). The components of the system 490 can alsoinclude remote devices and any of a wide variety of computer-readablemedia.

This disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the presenttechnology to the precise forms disclosed herein. Although specificembodiments are disclosed herein for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible without deviating from the presenttechnology, as those of ordinary skill in the relevant art willrecognize. In some cases, well-known structures and functions have notbeen shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thedescription of the embodiments of the present technology. Although stepsof methods may be presented herein in a particular order, alternativeembodiments may perform the steps in a different order. Similarly,certain aspects of the present technology disclosed in the context ofparticular embodiments can be combined or eliminated in otherembodiments. Furthermore, while advantages associated with certainembodiments of the present technology may have been disclosed in thecontext of those embodiments, other embodiments can also exhibit suchadvantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit suchadvantages or other advantages disclosed herein to fall within the scopeof the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure and associated technologycan encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein,and the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Throughout this disclosure, the singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.Similarly, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only asingle item exclusive from the other items in reference to a list of twoor more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpretedas including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items inthe list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally,the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are used throughout tomean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greaternumber of the same feature and/or additional types of other features arenot precluded. Reference herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“some embodiments” or similar formulations means that a particularfeature, structure, operation, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of thepresent technology. Thus, the appearances of such phrases orformulations herein are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. Furthermore, various particular features, structures,operations, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments.

I/We claim:
 1. A semiconductor assembly, comprising: a first device; asecond device mounted overlapping the first device; a thermal managementlayer disposed between the first device and the second device, whereinthe thermal management layer is configured to reduce transfer of thermalenergy between the first device and the second device; and a connectorelectrically coupling the first and second devices, wherein theconnector extends across the thermal management layer.
 2. Thesemiconductor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first device is a logicdevice.
 3. The semiconductor assembly of claim 2, wherein the firstdevice is a graphics processing unit (GPU).
 4. The semiconductorassembly of claim 1, wherein the second device is a memory device. 5.The semiconductor assembly of claim 4, wherein high-bandwidth memory(HBM) device.
 6. The semiconductor assembly of claim 1, wherein thethermal management layer includes a thermally conductive layerconfigured to transfer the thermal energy across a lateral plane.
 7. Thesemiconductor assembly of claim 6, wherein the thermally conductivelayer is a graphene structure.
 8. The semiconductor assembly of claim 6,wherein the connector extends vertically across the thermal managementlayer.
 9. The semiconductor assembly of claim 8, wherein: the thermalmanagement layer includes an opening; and the connector extends throughthe opening.
 10. The semiconductor assembly of claim 1, wherein thethermal management layer includes a thermal-insulator interposerconfigured to reduce heat transfer between the logic device and thememory device.
 11. The semiconductor assembly of claim 10, wherein thethermal-insulator interposer includes ceramic, glass, or a combinationthereof.
 12. The semiconductor assembly of claim 10, wherein thethermal-insulator interposer includes a cavity.
 13. The semiconductorassembly of claim 12, wherein the cavity is configured to maintain avacuum condition within the cavity.
 14. The semiconductor assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the thermal-insulator interposer includes a gas and/ora phase change material (PCM) within the cavity.
 15. A semiconductorassembly, comprising: a first device; a second device mountedoverlapping the first device; a thermal-insulator interposer disposedbetween the first and second devices, wherein the thermal-insulatorinterposer is configured to reduce transfer of thermal energy betweenthe first and second devices; and a connector electrically coupling thefirst and second devices, wherein the vertically extending connectorextends through the thermal-insulator interposer.
 16. The semiconductorassembly of claim 15, further comprising: a graphene layer configured totransfer the thermal energy across a lateral plane; and a heat spreadermounted over the first and second devices and thermally coupled to thegraphene structure, the heat spreader configured to disperse the thermalenergy from the first and/or the second devices.
 17. The semiconductorassembly of claim 15, wherein: the thermal-insulator interposer includesan opening; and the connector extends through the opening.
 18. Asemiconductor assembly, comprising: a first device; a second devicemounted overlapping the first device; a graphene structure disposedbetween the first and second devices, wherein the graphene structure isconfigured to reduce transfer of the thermal energy between the firstand second devices; and a connector electrically coupling the first andsecond devices, wherein the connector extends across the graphenestructure.
 19. The semiconductor assembly of claim 18, wherein: thegraphene structure includes a hole; and the vertically extendingconnector extends through the hole.
 20. The semiconductor assembly ofclaim 18, wherein: the graphene structure is configured to transferthermal energy across a lateral plane; and further comprising: a heatspreader coupled to the graphene structure and configured to dispersethe thermal energy from the graphene structure.